Southwest Airlines is canceling a policy that will make carriers stand out.
Starting May 28, airlines will no longer allow two free check-in bags per passenger.
Southwest has abandoned its long-standing (apparently very popular) because it works for most customers. Instead, only flyers for fast rewards to list A and corporate travel will continue to get two free check bags on Southwest flights, According to the press release.
A-List members and “other select customers” will receive a free check bag, while Quick Reward Credit Card members will receive a credit limit of a check bag.
Everyone will charge for checking the first or second bag. Weight and size limitations apply. Southwest Airlines has not announced the cost of its checked bags. Other major US airlines Usually charged A bag is at least $35.
Of course, the cost of checked baggage has become the norm for the entire commercial aviation industry, but Southwest Airlines’ trend is its customer-friendly improvement, which is a favorable and important point.
But, Frommer’s explanation last summerFaced with a decline in profitability and investors’ desire to increase revenue, Southwest’s equal customer-friendliness has gradually eroded its customer-friendliness.
In addition to increasing check bag fees, new measures include “upcoming allocation of seats and additional legroom options” noted by the Southwest press release.
Additionally, Southwest Airlines is changing its loyalty program to allow passengers to earn more points through business-choice fares. Operators are offering customers new base fares to find the lowest fares and are willing to be subject to the biggest restrictions.
Also starting on May 28, according to the press conference, the flexibility of flight credit will be less, and now, the release will now be “one year or earlier from the date of ticket sales.” Another recent change: Southwest flights can eventually be booked through Expedia instead of last month, rather than just Southwest flights.
So, in other words, Southwest’s current revenue-raising policy is to be like any other airline, rather than trying to stand out through affordability and all passengers.
Southwest finally understands what other American airlines have discovered some time ago: adopting profound unpopular policies does not require paying for money.